1. Pheasant Tail nymph
A slim subsurface mayfly imitation and a fixture in most fly boxes. Usually tied on a size 14–16 nymph hook.
Tail
Tie in a few pheasant-tail fibre tips for a short tail at the bend.
Body and rib
Wrap the same fibres forward for the body, then counter-rib with fine copper wire for durability.
Thorax and wing case
Build a slightly fuller thorax and fold a section of fibres over the top to form a wing case.
Finish
Whip-finish behind the eye and add a drop of cement.
2. Elk Hair Caddis dry
A buoyant floating caddis pattern, typically tied on a size 12–14 dry-fly hook. It teaches palmered hackle and a hair wing.
Body
Dub a tapered body along the shank.
Palmered hackle
Wind a rooster hackle in open turns over the body so the fibres splay out and help it float.
Elk-hair wing
Stack a clump of elk hair and tie it down tent-style over the body, tips toward the bend.
Head
Trim the butts, form a small head and whip-finish.
Proportion check
On a dry fly, the wing usually runs about as long as the hook shank. Overlong wings make the fly land badly and twist the leader.
3. Woolly Bugger streamer
A versatile wet fly that takes trout, bass and panfish. Often tied on a size 6–10 long-shank hook, sometimes with a bead head.
Tail
Tie in a marabou plume for a soft, mobile tail roughly the length of the shank.
Body
Dub or wrap chenille forward to build the body.
Palmered hackle
Wind a saddle hackle back over the body and secure it with wire wound forward through the hackle.
Finish
Form the head, whip-finish and cement.
Tie each pattern several times before judging it. The first of any pattern teaches the steps; the fifth starts to look like the fly in the reference photo.
Read next